Wouter Jacob Gregorius Mees

Wouter J.G. Mees (The Netherlands, 6.8.1921 - 25.1.2018)

Important chess composer of chess problems and endgame studies

Ir. Wouter Jacob Gregorius Mees was born a Arnhem in 1921.

He graduated as a chemical engineer at the Technical University of Delft. At Hoogovens (Wijk aan Zee) he worked as a researcher and quality control expert.

He retired in 1983. He liked to play tennis and hockey, and to climb mountains.

He still cycles, sings and hikes. Other hobbies are archaeology, astronomy and modern architecture.

As an over-the-board player he played in some competitions in Kijk Uit and IJmuiden.

His interest for studies was aroused by Dutch books and Fischer´s column. Since 1936

he has published studies and problems. In 1959, he became FIDE Judge of Chess Compositions.

He was co-founder and chairman of the "Computer SchaakVereniging Nederland". In Probleemblad,

he runned the column "Studies".

About the endgame studies by Mees:

Mees is after Marwitz, Harold van der Heijden and GM Jan Timman one of the most successful study composer of the Netherlands

and has 11,67 points in the current FIDE list for chess composer.

Elegance and subtlety are qualities of his studies.

He had his greates successes in KNSB tournaments, in which he won 6 first prizes.

On Germain Wikipedia is written:

Wouter Jacob Gregorius Mees (born August 6, 1921 in Arnhem; † January 25, 2018) was one of the most successful Dutch student composers.

Mees's interest in chess studies was awakened by books and a chess column by Jean Fischer. At the age of 17 his first studies appeared in "De Schaakwereld". Mees achieved his greatest successes in the tournaments of the Royal Netherlands Chess Federation, where he won six first prizes. His studies are elegant and pointed.

Several of his works have been included in the FIDE albums, Mees is on their list with 11.67 points. He was editor of the studies section in Probleemblad. In 1959, FIDE awarded him the title of International Arbiter for Chess Composition.

Mees studied at the Delft University of Technology. As a chemical engineer, he was a researcher and quality control expert in Hoogovens until 1983.

He took part in chess tournaments in Kijk Uit and IJmuiden.

Fonts
Jan van Reek; Henk van Donk; Wouter Mees; Julien Vandiest: Carel Mann, Margraten, Alexander Rueb Vereniging voor Schaakeindspelstudie No. 6, 1991, ISBN 90-72939-12-3.

Web links
Compositions by Wouter J. G. Mees on the Schwalbe PDB server
Biography of Wouter Mees on the ARVES website
Individual evidence
  Jan Van Reek; Henk van Donk: Endgame Studies in the Netherlands and Flanders, Margraten, 1992, ISBN 90-72939-12-3 (English)
  International judges for chess compositions (English)